Notebook: Bowling, Futility And More

After getting the week underway with a Tuesday training session at the team's facility in Obetz, the Crew mixed things up yesterday by engaging in a team-building exercise.

They went bowling. And by all accounts, it made for an enjoyable respite from the daily rigors of training.

After getting the week underway with a Tuesday training session at the team’s facility in Obetz, the Crew mixed things up yesterday by engaging in a team-building exercise.

They went bowling. And by all accounts, it made for an enjoyable respite from the daily rigors of training.

“There’s so many things you can do on the field but sometimes other things are also important,” head coach Robert Warzycha said. “Being away from the field but we have some kind of competition where you have to help your teammates even if he’s never bowled before in his life. That’s what gets you closer on the field.”

It helps that the Crew’s game this weekend is the first home Sunday game of the season, giving the Crew an extra day of preparation without having to travel.

Veteran midfielder Eddie Gaven said he was just glad that his team did not finish last. The team that came in with the lowest scores apparently had to clean up.

“That was all that I really cared about,” he said. “Matt Lampson’s group (lost), and he’s usually the guy who has to clean up anyway because he’s one of the rookies so it was funny.”

“Usually the guys enjoy it,” Warzycha said. “There was a love of competition. They’re serious about what they’re doing. If you make a competition, everyone is very competitive and they want to win. I think that was very good.”

Warzycha said he did not participate but that some of the coaches did.

“Someone has to be referee, yeah?” he said with a laugh.

The end of today’s training session featured an entertaining exercise in futility.

The Crew trained at Crew Stadium today, and once the customary crossing and finishing drills that typically signify the end of practice were complete, most of the team headed to the locker room. I am not sure how it started, but a competition was devised along the north end line of the stadium. With the goal moved 10 yards away from the line, the challenge was to take a corner kick and have it land inside the goal on the fly.

Assistant coach Duncan Oughton was a major part of the drill, constantly egging on others as they gave it their best shot. Joining him were fellow coach Ricardo Iribarren and players Ethan Finlay and Cole Grossman. This literally went on for half an hour, with Frankie Hejduk upping the ante by putting a $20 bill on the line for the winner.

The attempts were similar to the goal scored by Thierry Henry in the final minutes of New York’s match Sept. 15. When it was pointed out that this feat seemed impossible, defender Josh Williams joked, “Henry did this. Against us.”

Oughton kissed the top of the crossbar a number of times and the same went for Finlay, but after several ultimatums, Hejduk withdrew his money and replaced it in his wallet and everyone went on their way. However, at the last possible second, Grossman appeared to successfully pull off the feat.

Other notes from training: -While practice was open to reporters, the Crew went through two full-squad scrimmages with different lineups in each. The lone goal went to Olman Vargas on the second unit.

The play was started by a cross from Ben Speas from the left side of the field near the goal. His attempt sailed high and was retrieved by Ethan Finlay, who was playing right back. Finlay sent a low cross in to Emilio Renteria, who was playing as a right midfielder. His attempt was tipped away, but it landed at Vargas’ foot before he blasted it past Andy Gruenebaum.

-It was a rough afternoon for Renteria, who sent a point-blank shot well above a wide-open net and nearly into the south stands and had another breakaway attempt snuffed out by Matt Lampson. His first attempt came courtesy of a beautiful through ball from Dilly Duka, who spent time on the first and second teams.

-Finlay, who is still learning the right back position, found himself matched up one-on-one with the burly Renteria at one point. Finlay held his ground, however, and eventually forced a turnover, drawing loud praise from Lampson.

-Head coach Robert Warzycha has several options as he plans his lineup for the weekend against Sporting Kansas City with defensive midfielder Danny O’Rourke suspended for yellow-card accumulation. With Federico Higuain working on the side, Milovan Mirosevic lined up as the second forward alongside Jairo Arrieta with Justin Meram and Eddie Gaven on the wings. Chris Birchall looked to be in O’Rourke’s spot with Cole Grossman playing the role of an attacking midfielder between Gaven and Meram.

Duka was in Grossman’s role on the second team, but things changed for the second half when Arrieta left early, presumably to rest his ankle. Renteria replaced him up top and Duka returned to the first unit on the right wing with Tony Tchani in the middle.

ajardy@dispatch.com @AdamJardy

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